Zadina ends Red Wings Development Camp with OT goal

Chris. Zadorozny @hollandsentinel.com, (616) 546-4290 ‏@SentinelZads

Saturday

Jun 30, 2018 at 4:16 PMJun 30, 2018 at 4:57 PM

DETROIT — Just like a Hollywood script, it was the Detroit Red Wings top prospect that finished off the Development Camp at the Belfor Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena on Saturday afternoon in Detroit.

Down 5-1 in the second period and down 5-3 to start the third period, Team Howe (Red) rallied to beat Team Lindsay (White) in overtime, 7-6 and it was Filip Zadina, the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, who scored the game-winning goal.

“It’s fun watching skill. You can tell these guys have a bright future and hopefully it’s the start of many more,” Red Wings Director of Player Development, Shawn Horcoff said.

Streaking down the right side of the ice along the boards, Michael Rasmussen, the Red Wings 9th overall draft pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, danced around one player to find Zadina in front as he deflected a pass into the back of the net, 16 seconds into overtime.

.@filip_zadina in overtime. #DRWDC pic.twitter.com/E2bstijAJm

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 30, 2018//

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“I was kind of nervous, lots of opportunities to score but I haven’t scored,” Zadina said of his play.

The teams ended the scrimmage with a five-round shootout where Zadina made a nifty deke and backhanded a shot bar-down to send the crowd home happy.

Rasmussen meanwhile said it was great to play with Zadina and Givani Smith, who appeared in three games for the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2016-17.

“It was great, both of them were awesome. Fil’s (Zadina) obviously very skilled and he can shoot the puck really well and just gets himself in good spots to shoot and G’s (Smith) just a big player, he gets down low and in front of the net,” Rasmussen said. “Definitely cool to play with both of those guys.”

Smith is a second round draft pick (46th overall) by the Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Draft.

He also had the game-tying goal in the third period, picking up his own rebound and banged it in after a few whacks at the puck in the crease.

“I think it’s a good little taste in the lineup. I can play first line, second line or fourth line. I can do it all, can get the puck to players of high end skill and finish my checks and just create space out there for the guys,” Smith said.

The 20-year-old's goal is to be in Detroit on opening night against the Columbus Blue Jackets in October.

With a logjam at forward, he feels he couldn’t be in a better spot.

“I have a good vision to where I see myself. I talked to Kenny (Holland) and looks of it, obviously I’m signed here but probably go down to Grand Rapids in the farm system and develop but I want to be here for opening night and that’s my main goal right now,” Smith said.

In the Ontario Hockey League between the Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers, Smith has played in 236 games, recording 73 goals and 62 assists with 411 penalty minutes.

“I’m aware of the situation on the roster right now. I couldn’t be in a better spot, better position. In Detroit, fans want a guy like me…It’s up to me, I want to be here come October,” he said.

Meanwhile, Craig Custance of The Athletic is reporting that Rasmussen is all but a lock to make the roster come training camp.

“It’s more experience and more stuff under your belt that you know and you gain knowledge. Just experience for me and just gaining knowledge,” Rasmussen said.

He said he’ll go back home for a few weeks and return to Detroit to train the rest of the summer and get ready for training camp in September.

Meanwhile Zadina will be vying for a roster spot as well.

“It’s going to be very hard for me. I will play my best and work harder than the other players here then I can make it,” Zadina said. “It’s going to be harder for me because it’s a pretty good team. I would love to play here but I have lots of work ahead of me.”